| Health
requirements:
No health certificates are required for entry to Dubai,
but it is always wise to check before departure, as health
restrictions may vary depending upon the situation at
the time.
Life
expectancy:
Women, 74; Men, 70
Currency:
The monetary unit is the dirham (AED) which is divided
into 100 fils. The dirham is linked to the Special Drawing
Right of the International Monetary Fund. It has been
held constant against the US dollar since the end of 1980
at a mid-rate of approximately US$1= Dh3.67.
Banks:
Both the local banks and the many international banks
represented by branches in Dubai provide the usual commercial
banking services. Transfers can be made without difficulty
as there is no exchange control and the dirham is freely
convertible.
Bank:
Opening hours are 8.00am to 1.00pm, from Saturday to Wednesday,
although some also open from 4.30-6.30pm. On Thursdays,
banks operate only from 8.00am to noon.
Exchange
houses:
Are open from 8.30am-1.00pm and 4.30-8.30pm.
The
holy month of Ramadan:
In many Muslim countries, labor laws stress that Muslims
may be required to work a maximum of six hours daily during
the holy month of Ramadan. Offices, shops, and other places
of employment adjust to the reduced working hours. Restaurants
close and food may not be consumed during the day by non-Muslims.
Night turns into day with prayer and family life being
the focus of activities. In the UAE, shopping centers
are open late into the night, the streets are crowded
with people, and television offers special late night
viewing for the entire family.
Time
zone:
GMT + 4 hours (When it is noon in NY City by Eastern Standard
Time; it is 8pm in Dubai) Daylight saving time is not
observed.
Climate:
The climate is hot and dry. The mean January temperature
is 65°F. and the mean temperature in July is 92°F. The
average annual rainfall is 6in.
Location:
The second largest of the seven emirates which make up
the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is located on the southern
shore of the Arabian Gulf. It has an area of some 3,900
square kilometres. Outside the city itself, the emirate
is sparsely inhabited and characterized by desert vegetation.
Visas:
Citizens of GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council: Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman)
and British nationals with the right of abode in the UK
do not need visas to enter the UAE. GCC nationals can
stay more or less as long as they like. Britons can stay
for a month and can then apply for a visa for a further
two months.
For
others, the easiest and most common way to enter the UAE
is on a hotel-sponsored visa. This means either a 15-day
transit visit or a 30-day visit visa. The difference is
that the transit visas cannot be extended. The visit visa
can be extended for another 30 days by the hotel that
initially acted as sponsor.
Religion:
Islam is the official religion of the UAE and there are
a large number of mosques throughout the city. Other religions
are respected and Dubai has two Christian churches, St
Mary's (Roman Catholic) and Holy Trinity (Inter-denominational).
Alcohol:
Alcohol is available in hotel and club restaurants and
bars. However, restaurants outside the hotels are not
permitted to serve alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is prohibited
for Muslims, yet the UAE is lenient to foreigners in this
regard. Alcoholic drinks are available in private clubs,
hotels, and restaurants in hotels. In addition, non-Muslim
expatriates can get liquor permits for purchase and consumption
of alcohol in their homes; however, as permit holders,
they may not sell, serve or give liquor to Muslims.
Photography:
Normal tourist photography is acceptable but it is considered
offensive to photograph Muslim women. It is also courteous
to ask permission before photographing men. In general,
photographs of government buildings or military installations
should not be taken.
Telephone:
To call the UAE from abroad, the country code is 971 followed
by the city code and the local number.
Average
Temperatures (In Fahrenheit):
High Low
January - March 80F 54F
April - June 97F 65F
July - September 103F 77F
October - December 92F 58F
The
best time of the year to visit Dubai is between November
and April, when the weather is coolest. The rest of the
year you're more likely to be running from one air-conditioned
environment to the next instead of getting out and exploring.
Ramadan, which takes place at a different time each year
on the western calendar, is the Muslim month of fasting
and is strictly adhered to throughout the UAE. That means
that it's illegal, not to mention rude, to eat, drink
or smoke in public from sunrise to sunset during your
stay. (In the year 2001, Ramadan falls between November
16 and December 14). The good news is that during that
time hotel rates drop up to 70%.
Visiting
in high summer (July and August) can be very uncomfortable.
From May to September, daytime temperatures are in the
low to 104-113 °F range. In the winter months, temperatures
average in the low to 68-77 °F range. It can get very
windy during these months.
Packing:
Dubai has a sub-tropical, arid climate. Sunny, blue skies
can be expected most of the year. Rainfall is infrequent
and irregular, falling mainly in winter. Lightweight summer
clothing is suitable for most of the year, but sweaters
or jackets may be needed for the winter months, especially
in the evenings.
Compared
with certain parts of the Middle East, Dubai has a very
relaxed dress code. However, care should be taken not
to give offence by wearing clothing which may be considered
revealing. At the pool or on the beaches, trunks, swim-suits
and bikinis are quite acceptable.
Good
quality sunglasses are advised, and photo- chromatic lenses
for those who wear spectacles. Hats or some protection
for the head are advisable when in direct sunlight.
Water:
Tap water is quite safe to drink but visitors usually
prefer locally-bottled mineral water and this is generally
served in hotels and restaurants.
Hijra
Calendar and Method of Determining Holidays:
The Hijra (Islamic) calendar is lunar; each month begins
and ends with the sighting of the new moon. There are
twelve months in the Hijra calendar: Muharram, Safar,
Rabi' al-Awwal, Rabi' al-Akhir, Jumada' al-Ula, Jumada'
al-Akhirah, Rajab, Sha'baan, Ramadhan, Shawwal, Dhul-Qi'dah,
Dhul-Hijjah. Each month is 29-30 days long, making the
Hijra year shorter than the Gregorian year. Unlike the
Gregorian day, which is from midnight to midnight, the
Muslim day starts and ends at sunset. The Hijra calendar
began with Prophet Mohammed's migration from Mecca to
Medina. The first year corresponds to 622 ad in the Gregorian
calendar.
It
is important for newcomers to the Middle East to understand
that Islamic dates are not fixed, rather they depend on
the sighting of the new moon each month. For example,
Eid Al Fitr is only known the evening before, thus everyone
must watch the evening news or read the morning paper
to know whether the next day will be a working day or
Eid. This can be a source of anxiety for newcomers as
in many parts of the world holidays are known way in advance
and plans can be made for traveling, etc. It is one of
the differences of living in the UAE and you are encouraged
to be flexible, adaptable and accept that there is nothing
that can be done to change this practice. The quicker
you accept this, the less anxiety you will experience!
Holidays:
Subject to change according to the sighting of the moon
Hijra New Year: Year 1424 began 4 March 2003
Prophet's Birthday: A significant day for many Muslims
Israa' Wal Miraaj: The Prophet's miraculous night journey
to Heaven
UAE National Day: 2 December, The official establishment
of the United Arab Emirates
Eid Al Fitr: Feast of Fast Breaking at the end of the
month of fasting
Eid Al Adha: Feast of Sacrifice; occurs during the pilgrimage
to Mecca, commemorating the example set by Prophet Abraham
Accession Day: The day Shaikh Zayed Al Nahayan become
ruler of the UAE
Getting
There:
The airport is on the mainland, about 18.6 mi north-east
of the city centre. Dubai International Airport (DXB)
has recently undergone a US$540 million expansion. New
facilities include a spa, business and conference rooms,
a five-star hotel and, of course, an expanded duty-free
store, enlarging what was already one of the biggest in
the world. The airport has a long-standing reputation
as the Gulf's travel hub.
The
national carrier is Emirates, which flies to some 45 destinations
in the Middle East, Europe, Australia, Africa and the
Indian Subcontinent.. There is no departure tax leaving
Dubai International Airport, although there may be in
the future.
Dubai's
location at the cross-roads of Europe, Asia and Africa
makes for easy accessibility. London is seven hours away,
Frankfurt six, Hong Kong eight and Nairobi four.
Most
European capitals and other major cities have direct flights
to Dubai, many with a choice of operator.
Buses
run throughout the region to other parts of the UAE and
surrounding countries. Within the UAE, the only intercity
bus route you're likely to use runs to Hatta from the
Deira bus station. To get to most other cities in the
Emirates, take a Dubai Transport minibus. There are two
buses a day to Muscat, Oman. Balawi Bus Service runs to
Jordan twice weekly and Egypt on Wednesdays. To arrange
buses to Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Syria, you'll need
to go to Abu Dhabi.
Long-distance
taxis can take you to any other emirate on a shared or
'engaged' basis (which means you'll either have to fill
all five seats or pay for them). Settle the price before
you leave. There is a tax as you cross the UAE border
by land.
Passenger
ferries make the 12-hour trip between Sharjah (a twenty-minute
drive from Dubai) and the port of Bandaré Abbas in Iran
daily. A passenger and car ferry runs from Jebel Ali (30
minutes south of the city center) and Umm Qasr Port in
Iraq every Saturday. If you leave the UAE by boat, there's
a Dh20 port tax.
Getting
Around:
Buses
run between Dubai International Airport and Deira bus
station every half hour, and metered, beige-colored Dubai
Transport taxis take new arrivals to any point in the
Deira or Bur Dubai city centers. Although they can't serve
the airport, there are scores of private taxis in all
shapes and colors. As these aren't metered, you may need
to haggle a bit about fares.
Local
buses run from the Deira bus station, near the gold souq,
and the Bur Dubai Station on Al-Ghubaiba Rd. Monthly bus
passes, known as taufeer, get you unlimited travel on
either side of Dubai Creek or throughout the city.
Driving
in the city of Dubai is considered an extreme sport. If
you must rent a car, bring your credit card and a copy
of your passport. Drinking and driving earns jail time
on top of a stiff fine. Note that all accidents, no matter
how small, must be reported to the police. The older parts
of Dubai, with their souqs, fascinating architecture and
museums, are best seen on foot. Abras criss-cross Dubai
Creek from early morning until around midnight, and are
a great, inexpensive way to see the city.
Driving
in the UAE is on the right-hand side.
Roads
and highways: Over the past two decades, Dubai has built
an impressive network of first-class roads connecting
all parts of the city and surrounding areas. There are
two bridges and a tunnel linking the two main districts
of Dubai and Deira on either side of the Creek. Roads
to all major towns and villages are excellent and a multi-lane
highway heads southwards from the city to Abu Dhabi.
Water
taxis: An interesting way to travel between
Dubai and Deira is by water taxi across the Creek
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